Rashtrapati Bhavan gives 8 pm slot to INDIA bloc to meet President over ECI row

Rashtrapati Bhavan has allotted an 8 pm appointment to the INDIA bloc delegation to meet President Droupadi Murmu over the ECI row, including concerns over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi(File Photo-PTI)Rashtrapati Bhavan has allotted an 8 pm slot to the INDIA bloc delegation to meet President Droupadi Murmu over the Election Commission of India (ECI) row, top sources said on Friday, sources said.The appointment comes in response to the INDIA bloc's request to meet the President. The opposition alliance had sought time to meet Droupadi Murmu over the issue.The opposition bloc had sought time from President Murmu to raise its concerns over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The development comes as INDIA bloc MPs are scheduled to meet at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan at 3 pm and could proceed with another protest against alleged "vote chori"Sources had also indicated that Seva Teerth, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the vice-president's residence, and the residences of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah could be possible venues for protests against the CEC and the SIR exercise.Friday's planned action would mark the fourth consecutive day of protests by opposition leaders.INDIA BLOC HAD BEEN AWAITING PRESIDENT'S RESPONSEOn Thursday, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the INDIA bloc had requested an appointment with President Murmu and was awaiting a response from Rashtrapati Bhavan.According to Venugopal, the bloc sent its first request letter on October 2. Rashtrapati Bhavan subsequently asked for the names of the leaders who would attend the meeting."Accordingly, we submitted the request again on October 5, along with the names, seeking an appointment on October 7, 8 or 9," Venugopal had said."So far, we have received no response. We will wait until Friday," he had added.Last week, the INDIA bloc finalised a joint action plan over the SIR row, which included rallies and "save democracy" marches.OPPOSITION STAGES SIT-IN AT RAJGHATThe INDIA bloc intensified its agitation on Thursday as opposition leaders staged a sit-in at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat. They alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Election Commissioner were "hijacking" the country through a criminal conspiracy involving alleged vote chori.The sit-in marked the third consecutive day of protests against the CEC and the alleged manipulation of votes. Opposition leaders pledged to continue their agitation until the Chief Election Commissioner resigns.The protest followed two days of intense demonstrations during which police detained several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and forcibly removed them.On Thursday, opposition leaders gathered at Rajghat to offer floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and pray for "wisdom to the BJP government and the chief election commissioner".ROW OVER OBJECTIONS TO SIR DECISIONSThe opposition's intensified campaign comes days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over the preceding 10 months, mostly to decisions and orders related to the SIR of electoral rolls.Facing questions over the objections raised by the two commissioners, the Election Commission asserted that differing views and observations were a normal part of deliberations within any institution.The poll body also maintained that all its orders carried full legal sanction and followed established statutory procedures.- Ends